In rainout, Mets pitchers adjust rotation, learn from mistakes

EPA/JUSTIN LANEBobby Parnell was one of the Mets pitchers practicing their fielding on Tuesday.

NEW YORK — In blue sweatshirts and blue batting-practice caps, the Mets pitching staff formed a line behind the mound in the center of the Citi Field diamond Tuesday night.

Amid enough drizzle and early evening chill to eventually postpone a game, they took part in pitcher’s fielding practice.

They scooped ground balls and made the proper throws — a welcome sight after defensive disaster here on Monday.

One of Monday evening’s culprits, reliever Bobby Parnell, took part in the drills. Less than 24 hours before, his errant throw to home plate blew a tie.

Then his belt-high fastball resulted in a two-run homer and a three-run deficit that could not be evened by his teammates.

It was his third erratic outing in a row.

“You always go through a rough patch sometime in the year,” Parnell said before last night’s game against Colorado was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader tomorrow. “Unfortunately, it’s right now.”

The rainout caused an alteration of the Mets’ pitching plans. Jon Niese will start Wednesday. R.A. Dickey and Chris Capuano will pitch the two games Thursday.

A spot starter is needed for Sunday in Atlanta. The most likely candidate is long reliever D.J. Carrasco.

That means a little more adjustment for a bullpen that has anguished fans early in this season. After re-configuring the relief corps during the winter, general manager Sandy Alderson left two holdovers in place. The team hoped Parnell (0-1, 14.54 ERA) could set the table for closer Francisco Rodriguez.

For now, the bullpen roles remain fluid. Manager Terry Collins maintains he will make decisions based on matchups each game. Before last night’s game, Collins indicated he would be willing to use either Taylor Buchholz or former All-Star closer Jason Isringhausen in that eighth-inning role.

Still, Collins expressed confidence in Parnell. Pitching coach Dan Warthen had not alerted him of any ongoing mechanical issues, he said.

“This guy’s got a great arm,” Collins said. “He should go out there, and if he makes pitches with his good fastball, he’s going to get good outs.”

On the surface, Parnell appears skittish on the mound. He struggled with command in two appearances against Washington.

His nerves showed Monday night. With the go-ahead run at third base, Parnell fielded a grounder and flung the throw home over the head of catcher Josh Thole. The Mets lost the lead.

Two pitches later, he left a fastball up for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

The ball landed in the left-field seats.

But is there real cause for concern? Parnell insists no. The numbers back him.

Through five appearances, Parnell’s average fastball velocity is 95.6 mph, according to pitch-tracking data on FanGraphs. In 2010, his average fastball arrived at 96.4 mph.

“My arm feels good,” Parnell said. “My mechanics feel great. I mean, I’m throwing the ball where I want to, really, too. Not having good outcomes. It’s one of those things.”

That’s the nature of pitching. A pitcher controls so little once the ball leaves his hand.
Luck has not been on his side so far. In Parnell’s 41⁄3 innings, hitters’ batting average on balls in play is .417. The normative average for pitchers is .300.

In time, the mathematics of baseball suggest, his luck will turn.

“I’d rather have an early rough patch than a late rough patch,” he said. “It’s really all about how you end the season, how you finish.”